Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Looks like 487 will lead 216 this morning. A bit cloudy today, perhaps will clear by train time.



487 has now taken on a load of water, and will soon head for the coal dock. The cloudy damp weather helps to enhance the smoke today.



487 passes the tipple on the way to get coal. As she arrives at the coal dock the bus heading to Antonito can be seen passing by.



The gardening team is back at work pulling weeds on the South side of the sandbox, as 487 heads towards the depot, and stops as the hostlers job is now done.

216 all ready for boarding this morning, as the fire patrol gets ready to head out as well.

At 9:50 the 216 awaits to depart as riders move about the platform.

216 departs on time.

We are aware the tipple cams are down, I've notified Jason - further word will come as we get it.

Tipple cams are down so 216's departure on depot cam. Pictures on the parlor car platform just before a 10:02 departure.

Larry Gibson wrote:Tipple cams are down so 216's departure on depot cam. Pictures on the platform just before a 10:02 departure.

The network is up and running except for the links to the tipple. So, I'm guess the power is out. I'll try to get a hold of someone out there to go take a look.

CDOT Antonito cam catches 215.

Power is back on for tipple cams. Thank-you to all who helped trouble shoot. Expect further outages as FOCTS work continues on tipple today.

489 up to the ash pit for daily servicing.

When I first saw the man in the red bibs, red hard hat, and he had a white beard, I thought it was Santa Claus on his Summer break! The photo shown here shows him leaving after his "pit" stop, I guess. Took me by surprise when I first saw him.

487 brings the 215 in at 4:17.

487 and coaches head for wye turning movement at4:31.

Some cattle showing up on the La Manga Pass cam this evening.

487 returns with coaches at 6:42.

Larry Sullivan wrote:Some cattle showing up on the La Manga Pass cam this evening.

bandicam 2016-08-04 18-37-36-720.jpg

When you drive over that pass in the dark beware of a bum steer possibly waiting!! It can be startling!! First hand experience!!

On return from the wye 487 switches some of the freight cars.

My last capture of the switching at 5:00 local time before camera locks up. If anyone captures more please post.

At 5:38 487 is at the ashpit just about finished for the day.

Here's video of the day ---

Train 216 departure - today only from the Depot cam as with the Friends working at the tipple, it was required they take the power down for a short time, so we didn't have the tipple cams.



In a fairly familier move for this season 489 moved 484 from the West shop to the East side lead. The damp makes for some nice smoke.



Train 215 arrives with a good crowd still in the open gondola enjoying the views.



As 487 was working in the South yard, work at the tipple continues. Sounds like they are dumping buckets of gravel? Are they testing the whole system? Curious for the whole story here. In the video, about 1 minute in we hear the dumping, see something go down in front of the camera - looks like small gravel maybe. Shortly after a lot of water starts dripping in front of the camera. So anyone with the full story of the work up there please educate us all!!!



Some switching in the South yard occurred after 215 was turned. One passenger car was taken off of 215, then several switching moves with the final result being what looks like a reefer car and maybe one other put in the track next to the main - perhaps will get a better view once 216 leaves Friday, of the exact cars.